Original Word: φονεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: phoneuó
Pronunciation: fo-neu'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (fon-yoo'-o)
Definition: I murder, kill.
Meaning: To murder, to kill unlawfully, to commit homicide.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek noun φονεύς (phoneus), meaning "murderer."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H7523 רָצַח (ratsach): To murder, to slay, often used in the context of unlawful killing.
• H2026 הָרַג (harag): To kill, to slay, used more broadly for killing in various contexts, including warfare and execution.

These Hebrew terms provide the Old Testament background for the concept of murder, which is carried into the New Testament understanding through the Greek φονεύω.

Usage: The verb φονεύω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of murder or unlawful killing. It is often used in contexts that emphasize the moral and legal prohibition against taking another person's life.

Context: The Greek verb φονεύω appears in several key passages in the New Testament, underscoring the gravity of murder as a sin and a violation of God's commandments. It is most notably found in the context of the Ten Commandments, where it is used to translate the command "You shall not murder" (Matthew 5:21, BSB: "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’"). This commandment is foundational in both Jewish and Christian ethical teachings, highlighting the sanctity of human life.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands on the traditional understanding of murder, teaching that even harboring anger or hatred towards another person is subject to judgment (Matthew 5:22, BSB). This interpretation elevates the commandment from a mere legal prohibition to a matter of the heart, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and love.

The act of murder is also used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe spiritual or moral destruction. For example, in John 8:44, Jesus refers to the devil as a "murderer from the beginning," indicating the destructive nature of sin and deception.

The apostle Paul, in his letters, lists murder among the works of the flesh, contrasting it with the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21, BSB). This further illustrates the incompatibility of such acts with the life of a believer, who is called to live in accordance with the Spirit.

Overall, φονεύω is a term that encapsulates the serious nature of taking a life, both in physical and spiritual terms, and serves as a reminder of the call to uphold the value and dignity of every human being.

5407 phoneúō (from 5408 /phónos, "murder, homicide") – to murder, commit intentional (unjustified) homicide.

Word Origin
from phoneus
Definition
to kill, murder
NASB Translation
commit murder (5), commits murder (1), murder (3), murdered (2), put to death (1).

STRONGS NT 5407: φονεύω

φονεύω; future φονεύσω; 1 aorist ἐφόνευσα; (φονεύς); from (Pindar, Aeschylus), Herodotus down; the Sept. mostly for רָצֵח, also for הָרַג, הִכָּה, etc.; to kill, slay, murder; absolutely, to commit murder (A. V. kill): Matthew 5:21; James 4:2; οὐ (which see 6) φονεύσεις, Matthew 5:21; Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9 (Exodus 20:15); μή φονεύσῃς, Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; James 2:11. τινα: Matthew 23:31, 35; James 5:6.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

kill, slay.

From phoneus; to be a murderer (of) -- kill, do murder, slay.

see GREEK phoneus

Forms and Transliterations

εφόνευσαν εφόνευσας εφονευσατε εφονεύσατε ἐφονεύσατε εφονευσέν εφόνευσεν εφονοκτονήθη πεφόνευκεν πεφονευμένης φονευεις φονεύεις φονευετε φονεύετε φονευθήσονται φονεύοντος φονεύσαί φονεύσαντα φονεύσαντας φονεύσαντι φονεύσαντος φονευσαντων φονευσάντων φονεύσας φονεύσασι φονεύσει φονευσεις φονεύσεις φονευση φονεύση φονεύσῃ φονευσης φονεύσης φονεύσῃς φονεύσωμεν φονεύων φονοκτονεί φονοκτονήσητε ephoneusate ephoneúsate phoneueis phoneúeis phoneuete phoneúete phoneusanton phoneusantōn phoneusánton phoneusántōn phoneuse phoneusē phoneúsei phoneúsēi phoneuseis phoneúseis phoneúsēis phoneuses phoneusēs

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts